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Here I Stand: My Struggle for a Christianity of Integrity, Love, and Equality
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Average Rating:  out of 44 Reviews
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Price: $16.95
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Sale: $6.25
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Manufacturer: HarperOne
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EAN (European Article Number): 9780060675394
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Number of Items: 1
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Binding: Paperback
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Author: John Shelby Spong
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Publisher: HarperOne
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Dewey Decimal Number: 283.092
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Publication Date: 2001-04-01
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Reading Level: 480
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Description: Here I Stand is the autobiography of John Shelby Spong, the Episcopal bishop who is a lightning rod for controversy. Spong has for decades been working to popularize an inclusive version of Christianity that avoids racism, sexism, and homophobia; as a result, he has engaged leading conservatives (such as Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson) in very public conflicts. Here I Stand, predictably, gives a blow-by-blow of Spong's high-profile battles. More surprisingly, Spong also shares some very intimate details about his life that help to explain the sources of his theology. His southern childhood is related in a manner that is every bit as painful and comic as a Flannery O'Connor story. And the story of his first marriage, to a woman whose mental illness persisted for 15 years, is handled with sensitivity and grace. Despite his occasional rhetorical excesses, Spong's book is clearly written in love--with God, with the Church, and with the world. "I walk inside the wonder of this God in every experience of life," he writes at the book's end. We are fortunate that Spong's autobiography so expertly conveys this wonder.
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Customer Reviews
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Review Summary: For the religious as well! |
Date: 2008-12-26 |
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Details: This book continues Spong's theme in his past books. The 'miraculous' nature of of so much traditionally embedded in the Jesus story are given believable explanations so that Jesus is left, or should I say revealed' as a man of courage, wisdom, and a person who was prepared to challenge the social, political and religious boundaries of his time, he remains however as a Jew and a man of his time and context. Personally, Spong's thoughts in this book relieve Jesus of the accretions of traditional theistic theology. He is someone who speaks to 'religious' and non religious alike. I think the aim of the book is achieved: to reveal a Christianity of integrity, love and equality - characteristics of the man Jesus. Hopefully we will be able to listen to this message, for surely in today's world of strife, greed, division and exclusion , it is what we need. It is up to us; there are no miracles except that of active love. |
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Review Summary: An excellent autobiography |
Date: 2008-02-08 |
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Details: This was the first book by Bishop Spong that I read, but it led me to read all the others that I could find in print. To date, that must be about 10 other books. He stimulates the mind and encourages one to think "out of the box" - a healthy exercise when all around us is a swirling miasma of misinformation and cant that is unbelievable. The Bishop is a renaissance man of our time. |
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Review Summary: A Wonderful Story... |
Date: 2007-05-11 |
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Details: As a young Episcopalian, future priest, and sometimes follower of Bishop Spong I was excited to get my hands on his autobiography to see where he was coming from. He has lived such an intriguing life and he has done many, many good things for the Church, and for the world.
In spite of what some may think about his theology (I, for one, happen to agree with a lot of what he says), I think that this book just shows that he is a man devoted to God, to the Church, and to his family.
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Review Summary: Excellent background book |
Date: 2005-10-28 |
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Details: This is an excellent book. I have read several of Spong's books and this book is very helpful in giving the evolotion in his spiritual ideas. The Unity church I attend, has had two sets of Sunday School classes on his books. This book helps one to understand his writing. |
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Review Summary: A Man Who Takes Charge |
Date: 2005-09-27 |
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Details: Former Bishop Spong doesn't believe in the Bible as the inspired word of God. He doesn't believe Jesus was born of a virgin, died in atonement for sin, or was physically resurrected from the dead. He doesn't believe in salvation, the power of prayer, the second coming, Hell or any sort of afterlife, and sees God more as an internal presence than an external supernatural force.
I am interested in the history and structure of religion...this is my third Spong book. I thought perhaps this time I would find out just what it is Spong does believe - no such luck. What I did get was a detailed view of what shaped his life and theology, how he came to write so many books (average of one every 2 years since 1973) and a readable story about an energetic, caring and principled man.
Spong's father was an alcoholic who died when the boy was 12. Spong wasn't ready for the "man of the house" role his dependent mother would have liked for him to fill. His marginally successful early teen years took a positive turn when he joined the boy's choir at the Episcopal Church. A charismatic priest took an interest, and young Spong began taking leadership roles in every church activity. By the time he finished the 11th grade, he had decided to become a priest. Since being a priest required college, Spong buckled down and got all A's in school his senior year - a necessity for college admission since his previous grades were so poor.
From that time on (working within the limitations of objectivity inherent in an autobiography) Spong was a leader in everthing he attempted. In college, seminary and throughout his early church positions, he provided enthusiastic administrative skills. Outstanding qualities - a way of creating excitement for projects, organizational skills, people skills, diplomacy, unlimited energy, a developing talent in handling the press, and a willingness to stand up against injustice, even if he might end up standing alone. He wielded these qualities into explosive growth for each church under his guidance, and through the difficult time of racial de-segregation. Repeatedly when racial issues were lacking local leadership, Spong stepped forward. During the occasional loss of a battle, he laid ground to win the war.
Adult Bible study groups were an integral part of each of Spong's churches. His enthusiastic and always crowded classes repeatedly asked him to publish his classwork, and his second career as a writer began. He helped the high school football announcer with statistics, soon taking over play by play announcing. He created a debate over radio with a local rabbi. He received more and more speaking engagements, sparking a third career. These days, he has about 200 speaking engagements per year.
The drama of conflict is one of the charms of this autobiography, but it is strictly a memoir of his professional life. We don't get past a superficial knowledge of either wife or his kids. The conflicts at the end of the book can get a little too detailed at times, but the inner workings of church hierarchy I found fascinating.
Back to Bishop Spong's theology, I still wonder - given his beliefs - why he doesn't take up watercoloring or golf instead of going to church. I would like to read his views on what role IS appropriate in his view of the church and how this church would conduct its services. It is clear that whatever he believes, a significant part of his theology will be based on tolerance and love. A very good book.
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